Texas Beef Weeks Festival Wraps Up in St. Petersburg
Texas Beef Weeks Festival Wraps Up in St. Petersburg
The three-week long Texas Beef Weeks festival has just concluded at the Sokos Palace Bridge Hotel in St. Petersburg, Russia. At the March 12-28 festival, guests at two of the hotel’s restaurants (Seville and PortoFino) were offered a special “Texas Menu” featuring a variety of well-marbled U.S. steaks and burgers along with popular side items such as baked beans and onion rings. The festival was made possible by Beef Checkoff-funded promotional support from the Texas Beef Council.
The special festival menu was developed by the hotel’s Executive Chef Kenneth Lindberg, who is a loyal fan of U.S. beef. He was a member of the Russian chefs delegation that visited Texas in 2009.
Executive Chef Kenneth Lindberg greets guests at Texas Beef Weeks in St. Petersburg
“Although Chef Lindberg was familiar with U.S. beef before his visit to Texas, that trip really turned him into a passionate advocate for our beef products,” said USMEF St. Petersburg Manager Yuri Barutkin. “Now he regularly helps USMEF in conducting master classes where U.S. beef is featured as the main dish.”
At the Texas Beef Weeks festival, customers not only enjoyed specially priced menu items, but also were immersed in a unique Texas atmosphere. The restaurants were generously decorated with Texas-themed items, including U.S. and Texas state flags, Stetsons, horseshoes, cowboy boots and Old West-style lanterns.
Texas Beef Weeks was supported by a media campaign that included several local news articles encouraging customers to dine at the festival. As a part of the promotional effort, USMEF joined Sokos in organizing a Texas-themed party for Russian journalists, key industry contacts and diplomatic officials – including a special appearance by U.S. Consul General Sheila Gwaltney. Guests listened to a country-and-western band, learned about Texas culinary traditions and, most importantly, savored the delicious taste of high-quality Texas beef.
“We were especially encouraged by the presence of journalists from lifestyle magazines, and the coverage they offered to Texas Beef Weeks,” Barutkin said. “Getting this information out to their readers will provide a strong multiplier effect for the festival and for U.S. beef in this market.”
In addition to operating three St. Petersburg hotels, Sokos is the largest hotel chain in Finland with 40 locations. Sokos also operates a hotel in Tallinn, Estonia.
Recent weekly export data show an impressive trend toward larger beef exports to Russia. The latest weekly report (for March 12-18) marked the third consecutive week of solid exports to Russia, achieving volumes not seen since mid-2008. Strong results in new export sales (not yet shipped) suggest continued export growth to Russia in coming weeks.
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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.
For more information, contact Jim Herlihy at jherlihy@usmef.org.
USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law.
Texas Beef Weeks Festival Wraps Up in St. Petersburg
The three-week long Texas Beef Weeks festival has just concluded at the Sokos Palace Bridge Hotel in St. Petersburg, Russia. At the March 12-28 festival, guests at two of the hotel’s restaurants (Seville and PortoFino) were offered a special “Texas Menu” featuring a variety of well-marbled U.S. steaks and burgers along with popular side items such as baked beans and onion rings. The festival was made possible by Beef Checkoff-funded promotional support from the Texas Beef Council.
The special festival menu was developed by the hotel’s Executive Chef Kenneth Lindberg, who is a loyal fan of U.S. beef. He was a member of the Russian chefs delegation that visited Texas in 2009.
Executive Chef Kenneth Lindberg greets guests at Texas Beef Weeks in St. Petersburg
“Although Chef Lindberg was familiar with U.S. beef before his visit to Texas, that trip really turned him into a passionate advocate for our beef products,” said USMEF St. Petersburg Manager Yuri Barutkin. “Now he regularly helps USMEF in conducting master classes where U.S. beef is featured as the main dish.”
At the Texas Beef Weeks festival, customers not only enjoyed specially priced menu items, but also were immersed in a unique Texas atmosphere. The restaurants were generously decorated with Texas-themed items, including U.S. and Texas state flags, Stetsons, horseshoes, cowboy boots and Old West-style lanterns.
Texas Beef Weeks was supported by a media campaign that included several local news articles encouraging customers to dine at the festival. As a part of the promotional effort, USMEF joined Sokos in organizing a Texas-themed party for Russian journalists, key industry contacts and diplomatic officials – including a special appearance by U.S. Consul General Sheila Gwaltney. Guests listened to a country-and-western band, learned about Texas culinary traditions and, most importantly, savored the delicious taste of high-quality Texas beef.
“We were especially encouraged by the presence of journalists from lifestyle magazines, and the coverage they offered to Texas Beef Weeks,” Barutkin said. “Getting this information out to their readers will provide a strong multiplier effect for the festival and for U.S. beef in this market.”
In addition to operating three St. Petersburg hotels, Sokos is the largest hotel chain in Finland with 40 locations. Sokos also operates a hotel in Tallinn, Estonia.
Recent weekly export data show an impressive trend toward larger beef exports to Russia. The latest weekly report (for March 12-18) marked the third consecutive week of solid exports to Russia, achieving volumes not seen since mid-2008. Strong results in new export sales (not yet shipped) suggest continued export growth to Russia in coming weeks.
# # #
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.
For more information, contact Jim Herlihy at jherlihy@usmef.org.
USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law.